{"id":13,"date":"2026-10-16T15:10:34","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T13:10:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/our-parish\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T15:12:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T13:12:19","slug":"our-parish","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/en\/our-parish\/","title":{"rendered":"Our parish in Kaiserslautern"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-section two-column is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pastor Nathaniel Jensen<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Rev. Nathaniel Jensen was called to serve KELC in 2021 through the LCMS Office of International Mission. His ministry includes serving U.S. military personnel and other English speakers, working with the partner church in Germany and mentoring seminary students.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He studied German and theological languages at Concordia University Wisconsin and earned his Master of Divinity at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. For pastoral care, instruction or a conversation before visiting, <a href=\"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/en\/contact\/\">contact Pastor Jensen<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"pastor-photo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/wp-content\/themes\/kelc\/assets\/images\/pastor.webp\" width=\"900\" height=\"964\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Pastor Nathaniel Jensen and his family in church\"><figcaption>Pastor Jensen and his family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-section reading is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A civilian parish since 1985<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The congregation began on Easter Sunday 1985, when Lutherans in the Kaiserslautern Military Community sought a civilian parish. Military families and Department of Defense employees were among its first members. The Lutheran Church\u2014Missouri Synod agreed to support the parish, which agreed to call LCMS pastors.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first pastoral call went to retired Air Force chaplain Glenn Koch in autumn 1987. After illness brought his return to the United States, James Hoke served the congregation. A proposed building near Landstuhl was not pursued following the military drawdown; the land was sold in 1990.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The congregation\u2019s founding in 1985 preceded its legal registration as an association in 1988. Today our worship address is Karpfenstra\u00dfe 7 in Kaiserslautern.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Life together<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Worship, study and fellowship give shape to parish life. Arrivals and departures are part of this community\u2019s history, but the gifts around which we gather remain the same. If you would like to learn about the faith, discuss membership or ask how to help, speak with the pastor.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/en\/resources\/\">Sermons and parish newsletters<\/a> offer a further glimpse of the congregation\u2019s teaching and life.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pastor Nathaniel Jensen The Rev. Nathaniel Jensen was called to serve KELC in 2021 through the LCMS Office of International Mission. His ministry includes serving U.S. military personnel and other English speakers, working with the partner church in Germany and mentoring seminary students. He studied German and theological languages at Concordia University Wisconsin and earned [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"kelc_description":"Meet Pastor Nathaniel Jensen and learn how KELC began in 1985 as a civilian Lutheran parish serving military families and other people in Kaiserslautern.","kelc_lead":"KELC brings together people whose lives in Germany may be temporary and people for whom this region is home. Together we hear Christ\u2019s Word, receive his gifts and care for our neighbours.","kelc_nav":"Our parish","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35,"href":"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions\/35"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kelc-staging.arnitz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}